2030 International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011, 46, 2030–2034

Original article The effects of sex and seasonality on the metal levels of different muscle tissues of mature Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in Bay, north-eastern mediterranean

Deniz Ayas1* & Yesim Ozogul2

1 Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, , Mersin, 2 Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey (Received 9 March 2011; Accepted in revised form 17 June 2011)

Summary The objective of this study was to determine the seasonal and sexual effects on metal levels of lump crabmeat (LCM) and chela crabmeat (CCM) of mature Atlantic blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, caught in the Mersin Bay, the north-eastern Mediterranean. The findings indicated that the annual ranges of metal levels in the LCM of Atlantic blue crab were as follows: 0.44–0.61 lgCdg)1, 0.30–0.60 lgCrg)1, 0.24–0.52 lgPbg)1, 9.72–43.70 lgCug)1, 39.52–97.26 lgZng)1, 11.97–32.48 lgFeg)1. The annual range of metal levels in the CCM of Atlantic blue crab were as follows: 0.52–1.07 lgCdg)1, 0.24–0.61 lgCrg)1, 0.28– 0.56 lgPbg)1, 22.17–68.09 lgCug)1, 93.92–175.21 lgZng)1, 8.81–19.47 lgFeg)1. Cd, Cu, Zn levels in CCM of Atlantic blue crabs were higher than in LCM, whereas Fe levels were found lower (P < 0.05). Fe metal specifically accumulated in LCM, and Cd, Cu and Zn metals accumulated in CCM. Metals such as Cu, Zn and Fe showed seasonal variations. It was found out that Cu, Zn and Fe levels of muscle tissues of the Atlantic blue crab in spring and summer seasons were higher than in autumn and winter seasons. Keywords Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, contamination, metal, season, sex.

in big sea crabs depending on seasons or different muscle Introduction tissue types. For instance, Beltrame et al. (2010) indi- Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is a crustacean cated that there was no relationship between sex, size species which lives in the waters of the western Atlantic and bio-accumulated metals of Burrowing Crab Ocean. This portunid crab species has been introduced (Neohelice granulata) caught from a coastal lagoon in to the Mediterranean waters via blast water. Atlantic Argentina. Olusegun et al. (2009), Go¨kog˘ lu & Yerlikaya blue crabs are commonly distributed in the north- (2003) reported variations in metal levels of different eastern Mediterranean shores in Turkey. muscle tissues of Callinectes species. Beltrame et al. Atlantic blue crab is one of crab species, which have (2010) also reported that concentrations of some metals economic value. Thus, this species is caught both in the (Cd, Cu) in N. granulata showed seasonal changes. world and in Turkey. According to Anonymous (2010), Mature Atlantic blue crabs need moulting to grow up. seventeen and seventy-seven tons of Atlantic blue crabs Taylor et al. (2007) report that samples of cuticle are were caught in 2008 and 2009, respectively, in Turkey. removed from blue crabs, C. sapidus, and within 1 h, The pollution of aquatic environment makes it soft-shell stage begins, following this stage, blue crabs necessary to determine seafood contamination levels. go into paper-shell stage in 12 h and lastly, their hard- Thus, some studies have been conducted on levels of shell stage begins in 7 days after moulting. Following metal contamination of seafood, particularly fish, ceph- moulting, metal levels of blue crabs decrease to a great alopods and crab species, for a long time in Turkey and extent. Bergey & Weis (2007) reported metal elimina- in the world (Olusegun et al., 2009; Beltrame et al., tions during the moulting of carapace in crabs and a 2010; O¨zden, 2010; Ersoy, 2011). reduction in their Cu and Zn metal levels by 3–12% and Although generally, metal level changes in crabs are 8–22%. In a similar study, Benjakul & Sutthipan (2009) not observed related to size and sex, changes can be seen reported decreases by nearly 100% in Cu, Fe and Zn levels of soft shell crabs compared with hard shell crabs. Mersin Bay has been contaminated with the indus- *Correspondent: Fax: (90) 324 3413025; trial, agricultural and domestic wastes. Fertilizers and e-mail: [email protected] pesticides are widely used in agricultural areas in

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2011.02713.x 2011 The Authors. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 Institute of Food Science and Technology Metal level of Atlantic blue crab D. Ayas and Y. Ozogul 2031

Mersin. Besides, until Mersin Waste Treatment Facility Sample preparation was founded, domestic waste was discharged directly to the bay. Furthermore, there are a large number of The crabs were weighed, and some morphometric streams connected to the Gulf of Mersin. Hence, measurements [carapace length (CL), carapace width terrestrial pollution is easily transported to the sea. (CW)] were determined by calliper. Thirty individuals There are a large number of industrial plants such as for each sex group and each season were used. Carap- Mersin port, oil industry, chromium industry, fertilizer aces of all of raw specimens were removed, and the two industry in the city of Mersin. Owing to these reasons, largest portions of meat connected to the swimming legs Mersin Bay is faced with domestic, agricultural and (lump crabmeat – LCM) and meat from chela (chela industrial pollution. As invertebrate sea animals like big crabmeat – CCM) were carefully scraped out with a sea crabs have weak detoxification mechanisms, con- scalpel. All assays were conducted on triplicate samples tamination levels should be kept under control in the of the homogenates. bays, which are vulnerable to pollution. Atlantic blue crabmeat contains high levels of Cu, Metal analysis Zn and Fe (Job et al., 1997; Go¨kog˘ lu & Yerlikaya, 2003; Tu¨rkmen et al., 2006; Olusegun et al., 2009). The LCM and CCM samples (0.5 g dry weight) used for Although there are many studies on the metal levels of metal analysis were dried at 105 C to reach constant Atlantic blue crabs, there is hardly any available weights, and then concentrated nitric acid (4 mL, information about metal levels in Atlantic blue crabs Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and perchloric acid living in Mersin Bay. Thus, the objective of this study (2 mL, Merck) were added to the samples. Digested was to compare and determine the seasonal and sexual samples were put on a hot plate set to 150 C until all effects on the metal levels of LCM and CCM of mature tissues were dissolved (Canlı & Atlı, 2003). Inductively Atlantic blue crabs in Mersin Bay, north-eastern Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission (ICP-AES, Varian Mediterranean. Model, Liberty series II, Sydney, Australia) was used to determine metals. The metal levels (Cr, Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe and Zn) in samples were detected as lg metal g)1 dry Materials and methods weight. High Purity Multi Standard (Charleston, SC 29423) was used for the determination of the metal Materials analyses. Atlantic blue crabs, C. sapidus, were caught by dip net from Mersin Bay in all the seasons in 2008 on the coast Statistical analysis of north-eastern Mediterranean. The samplings were performed in April (spring), July (summer), October Statistical analysis of data was carried out with the SPSS (autumn) and December (winter). In the fishing proce- 16.0. Duncan test was used to evaluate the seasonal and dure, dip net that had mesh size of 32 mm was used. In sexual effects on metal levels of LCM and CCM of each season, thirty male and thirty female individuals Atlantic blue crabs. were caught and kept in polystyrene boxes with ice. When the crabs were brought to the laboratory, they Results and discussion were still alive. The moulting of crabs was observed in October, and the crabs caught in this month were The average carapace width (CW) was 125.0–185.0 mm semisoft shell crabs. for Atlantic blue crabs (Table 1). In a study carried out

Table 1 Morphological measurements of Atlantic blue crabs in Mersin Bay

CL CW Weight

Season NS X 6SX Min–max (mm) X 6SX Min–max (mm) X 6SX Min–max (g) Sex

Spring 30 71.27 ± 4.13a 63.0–80.0 154.30 ± 9.40a 129.5–170.0 171.67 ± 25.77a 115.27–225.92 $ 30 74.17 ± 3.79a 68.0–80.5 151.65 ± 8.64a 128.0–163.0 191.11 ± 25.58a 154.03–237.93 # Summer 30 69.83 ± 2.53a 66.0–75.0 153.37 ± 6.49a 141.5–162.0 164.86 ± 16.12a 140.16–195.56 $ 30 73.40 ± 4.19a 64.5–79.5 149.90 ± 12.31a 125.0–165.0 233.01 ± 33.21a 165.90–290.78 # Autumn 30 68.97 ± 2.58a 65.0–72.0 149.87 ± 4.32a 145.0–156.0 160.65 ± 12.51a 140.07–175.01 $ 30 77.33 ± 3.64b 73.0–82.0 153.42 ± 9.43a 145.0–169.0 262.06 ± 39.67b 205.11–321.85 # Winter 30 71.45 ± 4.37a 67.0–79.0 153.70 ± 8.91a 142.0–168.0 168.89 ± 20.29a 145.93–203.09 $ 30 79.23 ± 4.29a 73.5–90.5 164.58 ± 12.03a 145.5–185.0 312.68 ± 44.68b 247.19–386.10 #

NS, number of specimens; CL, carapace length; CW, carapace width. Different letters (a, b) in the same columns for each season indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).

2011 The Authors International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 Institute of Food Science and Technology 2032 Metal level of Atlantic blue crab D. Ayas and Y. Ozogul

Table 2 The effects of season and sex Spring Summer Autumn Winter on metal levels of different muscle tissues of )1 Metal Sex X 6SX X 6SX X 6SX X 6SX Muscle Atlantic blue crabs (lgg )

Cd $ 0.50 ± 0.01a,y 0.59 ± 0.02a,z 0.46 ± 0.01a,x 0.44 ± 0.01a,x LCM 0.65 ± 0.02b,y 0.75 ± 0.02b,z 0.52 ± 0.02b,x 0.66 ± 0.01c,y CCM # 0.50 ± 0.02a,x 0.57 ± 0.02a,y 0.47 ± 0.01a,x 0.61 ± 0.03b,y LCM 0.68 ± 0.02b,y 0.71 ± 0.02b,y 0.58 ± 0.04b,x 1.07 ± 0.02d,z CCM Cr $ 0.58 ± 0.03b,z 0.60 ± 0.03b,z 0.36 ± 0.03b,x 0.47 ± 0.03a,y LCM 0.50 ± 0.04a,y 0.48 ± 0.04a,y 0.24 ± 0.04a,x 0.43 ± 0.03a,xy CCM # 0.56 ± 0.03b,z 0.60 ± 0.03b,z 0.30 ± 0.03ab,x 0.44 ± 0.02a,y LCM 0.60 ± 0.03b,z 0.61 ± 0.03b,z 0.34 ± 0.03b,x 0.42 ± 0.03a,y CCM Pb $ 0.52 ± 0.02a,y 0.32 ± 0.04ab,x 0.29 ± 0.03a,x 0.26 ± 0.03a,x LCM 0.56 ± 0.05a,y 0.29 ± 0.02ab,x 0.30 ± 0.01a,x 0.28 ± 0.01a,x CCM # 0.50 ± 0.01a,z 0.24 ± 0.03a,x 0.30 ± 0.03a,y 0.30 ± 0.03a,y LCM 0.51 ± 0.03a,z 0.40 ± 0.04b,y 0.31 ± 0.02a,x 0.29 ± 0.01a,x CCM Cu $ 34.12 ± 0.84a,y 37.72 ± 1.07a,z 10.09 ± 0.33a,x 9.82 ± 0.20a,x LCM 49.44 ± 0.71c,z 56.86 ± 1.25c,q 28.80 ± 0.97c,y 24.15 ± 0.87c,x CCM # 32.13 ± 0.47a,y 43.70 ± 1.35b,z 9.72 ± 0.21a,x 10.70 ± 0.43a,x LCM 43.24 ± 1.01b,y 68.09 ± 1.32d,z 22.70 ± 0.59b,x 22.17 ± 0.25b,x CCM Zn $ 90.81 ± 0.69b,z 97.26 ± 2.74b,q 44.14 ± 0.50b,y 39.52 ± 0.54a,x LCM 174.35 ± 1.62d,z 175.21 ± 1.45d,z 93.92 ± 0.43c,x 102.56 ± 0.81d,y CCM # 82.36 ± 0.69a,z 88.14 ± 1.91a,q 41.99 ± 0.57a,x 44.31 ± 0.63b,y LCM 164.93 ± 0.95c,z 157.23 ± 2.19c,y 97.52 ± 0.49d,x 98.85 ± 0.82c,x CCM Fe $ 32.48 ± 0.16d,z 22.05 ± 0.70c,y 13.05 ± 0.43b,x 12.09 ± 0.56b,x LCM 14.83 ± 0.60a,z 13.48 ± 0.24a,y 8.81 ± 0.15a,x 9.21 ± 0.46a,x CCM # 27.67 ± 0.63c,q 22.36 ± 0.39c,z 11.97 ± 0.54b,x 17.11 ± 0.25c,y LCM 19.47 ± 0.50b,z 16.85 ± 0.28b,y 9.79 ± 0.39a,x 9.57 ± 0.55a,x CCM

Different letters (a, b, c, d) in the same columns for each metal indicate significant differences (P < 0.05). Different letters (x, y, z, q) in the same rows for each different muscle tissues (LCM,

CCM) significant differences (P < 0.05). X Æ SX : mean ± SE.

on the coast of Nicoya Gulf in Costa Rica by Fischer & from the contamination levels of catching area. On the Wolff (2006), male and female blue crabs (Callinectes other hand, Fe levels were similar to those obtained in arcuatus) with the carapace width (CW) over 95 mm our study. Go¨kog˘ lu & Yerlikaya (2003) found out that were accepted as adults. In a similar study carried out in Cu, Zn and Fe levels of Atlantic blue crabs were 25.3– shore water of Brazilia, Baptista-Metri et al. (2005) 31.3 lgg)1, 40.7–60.9 lgg)1 and 10.4–11.3 lgg)1, accepted male and female blue crabs (Callinectes danae) respectively, in the , on the coast of with the CW over 60 mm as adults. Thus, according to Mediterranean, Turkey. The ranges of metal levels the results of this study, male and female Atlantic blue were similar to those obtained in this study. In a crabs used in our study were adults. similar study conducted by Olusegun et al. (2009), the ranges of Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn levels in muscle tissues of blue crabs (C. amnicola) caught from Nigeria coast Annual metal levels of Atlantic blue crabs ) ) ) were 0.29–0.31 lgg 1, 0.48–0.61 lgg 1, 2.33–3.06 lgg 1 The size relationships generally found in the metal and 11.13–12.93 lgg)1, respectively. The Cd and Zn levels of Atlantic blue crabs in all the seasons were as levels were lower than those found in this study. This follows: Zn > Cu > Fe > Cd > Cr ‡ Pb (Table 2). could be owing to the differences in species and the Tu¨rkmen et al. (2006) reported Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn region where species were caught. Furthermore, the and Fe levels of Atlantic blue crabs (C. sapidus)as ranges of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn levels in muscle tissues of 1.77 lgg)1, 4.53 lgg)1, 3.51 lgg)1, 7.02 lgg)1, 9.07 Atlantic blue crabs (C. sapidus) were reported as 0.05– lgg)1 and 14.36 lgg)1, respectively, in the Gulf of 0.40 lgg)1, 0.01–0.12 lgg)1, 15.95–16.20 lgg)1 and Iskenderun, in the north-eastern Mediterranean. In the 31.25–32.76 lgg)1, respectively, by Jop et al. (1997) in present study, lower levels of Cd, Cr, Pb were obtained two Connecticut Estuaries (Quinnipiac river, Connect- in their findings. However, in their study, Cu and Zn icut river), USA. These levels were lower than those levels were lower than those obtained in the current found in this study. This could be the different study. The differences in the Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn levels contamination levels in these regions where the speci- in the studies mentioned earlier may have stemmed men used was caught.

International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 2011 The Authors International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 Institute of Food Science and Technology Metal level of Atlantic blue crab D. Ayas and Y. Ozogul 2033

metals of Atlantic blue crabs specifically accumulated in The relationship between the metal levels and the size of CCM, and Fe metal accumulated in LCM. Atlantic blue crabs Generally, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in size of all crabs were observed regardless of sex and season. The seasonal variations in metal levels of muscle tissues of However, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) Atlantic blue crabs in only males in autumn. The highest levels of metals In the present study, the levels of some metals in (Cu, Zn, Fe) in muscle tissues of Atlantic blue crabs C. sapidus showed seasonal variations. Seasonally, met- were observed in spring and summer, whereas the lowest als such as Cd, Cr, Pb metals showed small variations, levels of these metals were obtained in autumn and whereas metals such as Cu, Zn and Fe showed great winter (P < 0.05) (Table 2). In this study, it was found variations (P < 0.05) (Table 2). It was also observed that there was no relationship between specimen size that Cu, Zn and Fe levels in muscle tissues of Atlantic and accumulation of metals. Beltrame et al. (2010) also blue crabs in spring and summer seasons were higher indicated that there was no relationship between size than in autumn and winter seasons. Beltrame et al. and bio-accumulated metals of burrowing crab (2010) also reported that concentrations of some metals (N. granulata) caught from a coastal lagoon in Argen- (Cd, Cu) in N. granulata showed seasonal changes. tina. This result correlates with the results of the present study. Effect of moulting on metal content of blue crab The moulting of Atlantic blue crabs in Mersin Bay was The sexual variations in metal levels of muscle tissues of observed in October, and the crabs caught in this month Atlantic blue crabs were semisoft shell crabs. Cu, Zn and Fe metal levels in The findings indicated that there was no significant muscle tissues of Atlantic blue crabs were found higher difference (P > 0.05) in male and female crabs in terms in spring and summer than in autumn and winter of metal accumulation (Table 2). In the present study, it (Table 2). Reductions in feeding in autumn and winter was also found that there was no relationship between compared with the other seasons (Kucharski & Da sex and metal accumulation. Beltrame et al. (2010) also Silva, 1991) and carapace moulting in autumn might indicated that there was no relationship between sex and have played roles in the occurrence of these results. bio-accumulated metals of burrowing crab (N. granula- In the present study, moulting caused differences in ta) caught from a coastal lagoon in Argentina. Further- metal levels depending on the kinds of metal and muscle more, Chen et al. (2005) reported that there was no tissues. Besides, moulting reduced the metal levels of relationship between sex and metal accumulation in Atlantic blue crabs by nearly 70%. In addition, the muscle tissues of the rock crab (Thalamita crenata), in decreases in metal levels in CCM were lower than those Dapeng Bay, Taiwan. in LCM. Bergey & Weis (2007) also reported metal eliminations and a reduction in Cu and Zn metal levels by 3–12% and 8–22% during the moulting of carapace The metal level variations in different muscle tissues of in crabs. These results support our findings. In a similar Atlantic blue crabs study carried out by Benjakul & Sutthipan (2009), In the present study, Cd, Cu, Zn levels in CCM of decreases by 100% in Cu, Fe and Zn levels of soft shell Atlantic blue crabs were higher than in LCM whereas crabs were reported compared with hard shell crabs. The Fe levels were found lower in CCM of Atlantic blue researchers reported that the decreases in LCM were crabs (P < 0.05). Go¨kog˘ lu & Yerlikaya (2003) also higher than those in CCM. indicated that Zn levels (69.9 lgg)1) in CCM of Atlantic blue crabs (C. sapidus) were higher than Zn levels (47.0 lgg)1) in LCM. In addition, they reported The metal contamination levels in Atlantic blue crabs ) that Fe levels (10.4 lgg 1) in CCM were lower than Fe In the present study, annually, Cd metal levels in muscle ) levels (11.3 lgg 1) in LCM, in the Gulf of Antalya, the tissues of blue crabs ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 lgCdg)1 north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. In a similar study (Table 2). The Cd limit levels for crabs were carried out by Olusegun et al. (2009), Zn levels (15.75– 0.5 lgCdg)1 (Anonymous, 2001, 2005). Therefore, ) 16.20 lgg 1) in CCM of blue crabs (C. amnicola) were Atlantic blue crabs living in Mersin Bay were contam- ) higher than Zn levels (8.31–9.83 lgg 1) in LCM. Chen inated with Cd metal. Cr metal levels in muscle tissues of ) et al. (2005) reported that Cu levels (10.84–11.66 lgg 1) Atlantic blue crabs ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 lgCrg)1 ) and Zn levels (43.60–47.40 lgg 1) in CCM were higher (Table 2). The Cr limit levels reported by U.S. Food and ) than Cu levels (7.96–9.29 lgg 1) and Zn levels (29.20– Drug Administration (2005) were 12 lgCrg)1 for ) 32.00 lgg 1) in LCM of the rock crab (T. crenata), in crabs. Thus, these numbers indicate that Atlantic blue Dapeng Bay, Taiwan. Conclusively, Cd, Cu and Zn crabs living in Mersin Bay were not contaminated with

2011 The Authors International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 Institute of Food Science and Technology 2034 Metal level of Atlantic blue crab D. Ayas and Y. Ozogul

Cr metal. Pb metal levels in muscle tissues of Atlantic danae Smith (Crustacea, Portunidae), no Balneario Shangri-la, blue crabs varied between 0.2 and 0.6 lgPbg)1 Pontal do Parana, Parana, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, (Table 2). Anonymous (2001, 2005) set Pb limit level 22(2), 446–453. )1 Beltrame, M.O., De Marco, S.G. & Marcovecchio, J.E. (2010). for crabs as 0.5 lgPbg . Taking this limit level into Influences of sex, habitat, and heavy-metal concentrations in the consideration, the present study showed that Pb levels of burrowing crab (Neohelice granulata) from a coastal lagoon in Atlantic blue crabs were only high in spring. Argentina. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicol- Cu metal levels in muscle tissues of Atlantic blue crabs ogy, 58, 746–756. )1 Benjakul, S. & Sutthipan, N. (2009). Comparative study on chemical ranged from 9.7 to 68.1 lgCug (Table 2). 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International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 2011 The Authors International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2011 Institute of Food Science and Technology